Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 146: Getting Back Together

Standing on the porch were Margaret and Jake, their expressions tense and uncertain as they stared back at Claire.

"Margaret? Jake?" Claire said, her voice betraying her surprise. For a moment, she didn't know whether to step aside or close the door so they wouldn't come in.

It had been two weeks since Jake's release, and neither he nor Margaret had reached out until now.

Margaret offered a tentative smile, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "Claire... may we come in?" she asked uncertainly.

Claire hesitated but eventually stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. The awkwardness hung in the air as thick as fog. She didn't miss the way Jake avoided her gaze, his shoulders slumped as if it had become his regular posture.

As they stepped into the dining room, Alex and Emma turned to see who it was, their conversation abruptly halting. The shock on Alex's face was evident, and Emma stiffened beside him, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Though she knew Jake was out of jail, she had never once thought they'd be in the same room like this. Why were they here? She had thought they'd come sooner but after staying several days without seeing them, she had thought they wouldn't come so she had forgotten about them.

Seeing them now, was sort of disorienting and even though she didn't mean to, her heart was beating fast and she wasn't feeling comfortable either.

Margaret broke the silence first, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Alex," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "I need to apologize. For everything."

Alex's brows furrowed, confusion mixing with suspicion. "Margaret..."

"No, let me finish," she interrupted, stepping closer to him. "For years, I treated you terribly. I always tried to sabotage you in front of Dad and Claire. I wanted to push you out of the family, back to the orphanage... thinking you didn't belong with us and I was wrong. You've proven time and again that you're more than deserving of your place in this family. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I'm sorry it took me almost ruining someone's life before realizing."

Alex blinked, the tension in his jaw loosening slightly. He hadn't expected this, not after they didn't show up since Monday.

Margaret turned to Claire next. "And you... I called you names, questioned your decisions, and doubted your intentions when all you ever did was look out for me. I was blinded by my own pride and the fact that I thought I was doing what was best for my son and I hurt you in ways I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, Claire."

Claire's lips parted as if to say something, but she quickly closed them, her eyes searching Margaret's face for sincerity. Though she wanted to say something, she didn't know what to say or how to say the words.

Finally, Margaret turned to Emma, her gaze filled with remorse. "Emma... I don't even know where to start apologizing from. My stupidity and blind support for my son almost cost you your life. I enabled Jake when I should have held him accountable, and for that, I am deeply sorry. You didn't deserve the pain he caused you neither do you deserve the way I treated you. I'm so sorry."

Emma's throat tightened, and she had to fight to keep her emotions in check. She nodded slowly, unable to find the right words.

Jake stepped forward then, his voice low and shaky. "Emma... I need to say this, too. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. For the way I treated you in our marriage, for the hurtful things I said, for... for being the reason we lost our child." His voice cracked, and he looked away, his eyes glistening. "I was selfish, greedy, and cruel. You deserved better, and I failed you. I'll never forgive myself for what I did, but I hope... I hope you can."

Emma inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling as she processed his words. The memories of their painful past flashed through her mind like an old film reel—his harsh words, the coldness in his eyes, the emptiness she had felt and her child.

How all her joy and life which had been centered on having his child—how it had crumbled that night.

Though she had forgiven him since and didn't need to hear him apologize to her, but there was also a strange sense of closure in hearing him apologize like this.

"I've forgiven you, Jake," she said softly, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within her. "A long time ago. Not for your sake, but for mine. I needed to move on."

Jake nodded, his face etched with gratitude and regret. "Thank you. You have a good heart, Emma. I promise, I'll do right by you this time. I'm grateful."

He turned to Alex and Claire next, apologizing for his disrespect and the damage he had caused to the family and business by taking their business to the media.

Both of them accepted his apology, albeit cautiously, and Claire suggested they all sit down and have lunch together.

Emma, however, felt a knot tightening in her stomach as she forced herself to stay. She told herself this was Alex's family now, and she had to accept them since he couldn't leave his family for them.

But when Jake glanced at her across the table, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Why was he looking at her that way? With the same eyes he used to look at her when they met in college?

She wanted to think about it but then brushed it off. There was no way he could be thinking of them getting back together.

Later, after lunch, Emma decided to go get water and Jake wanting to speak to her privately discreetly followed her, pretending he needed something too.

Immediately Emma saw him enter, her heart skipped a beat and she immediately gulped down the water in her glass and headed for the door.

But Jake stopped her. "So, uhm... how are you really, Emma? After... everything? Everything I did. How are you?" he asked quietly.

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"I'm fine," she replied curtly, avoiding his gaze as she jerked her hands off his.

Jake stepped closer, his tone soft. "How did you manage to stay strong? After Vanessa, after everything I put you through..."

Emma's heart raced, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "It's in the past now, Jake," she said firmly sparing him a glance. "I don't want to talk about it," she added before walking out of the kitchen, her chest heaving.

What was that she has seen in his eyes? Was that sincerity? Was he being kind like he used to? Does he love her now? Did he want her back?

As she returned to the dining room, she saw Alex smiling and talking to Claire, his face relaxed and full of warmth. She reminded herself that this was her life now. Alex was her present and future and she couldn't be thinking about whatever Jake was saying or thinking.

Jake and Margaret finally left in the evening, and Emma felt an immense sense of relief. Shortly after, Claire decided to go prepare to leave since Chris had already texted her he'd be on his way there soon.

As Claire left, Alex turned to Emma, his expression soft but concerned. "Are you okay?"

He had been observing her since Jake and his mother came and he had seen the way Jake had kept glancing at Emma at intervals.

Though he understood that Jake had once been the love of her life, he hoped that he was Emma world now and she wouldn't be distracted by Jake's presence back in her life.

"Yes," she said quickly, forcing a smile.

"Emma," Alex said gently, "if you're not okay, you need to tell me. I can stop them from coming if it's too much for you."

Emma shook her head. "I'm fine, Alex. Really. You don't have to do anything."

Alex studied her for a moment before nodding. He didn't want to push her, but he could see the unease lingering in her eyes.

As they sat in silence, Emma told herself again and again that she was fine. But deep down, she knew the encounter had stirred emotions she thought she had buried long ago and she hoped it wouldn't cause any problems in her marriage now.